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A. W. DAVIES. COMPUTING MAOHINE.

No. 65,883. I Patented June 18, 1867.

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A. W. DAVIES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. Letters Patent No. 65,883, dated June18,1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPUTING MACHINES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, A. W. DAVIEs, of Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Computing Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and complete description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings,making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top view ofthe machine.

Figure 2 is a view of the top with the covers detached.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are detached sect-ionsto which reference will hemade.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the-views.

In a case, A, fig. 1, is arranged a system of wheels, B B, fig. 3, fiveat each end, in the order as represented. Wheels B are denominated thefigure-wheels, and wheels B, fig. 5, the master-wheel. These severalwheels are placed upon shaft 0, having their hearings in the sides ofthe case, and upon which shafts the wheels rotate, as will hereafter-beshown. It will be seen that on the periphery of wheels 13 are arrangednine digits and a cipher, and to the sides of the same a shoulder orauxiliary wheel, D, fig. 3, having a corrugated periphery, whereaswheels B are provided witlijten sides and a thin flange, E. To thisflange is connected a ratchet or notched whee], F, in, which the pawls Gare seen to engage. This pawl is pivoted to a cam, H, of which fig. 4 isa detached view, and when in position, as shown in fig. 2, it is given areciprocating movement, in grooves provided for that purpose, by the pina, which-is made to enter the irregular opening-seen in the earn, as andfor a purpose hereafter shown. J are endless chains passing around thewheels B B and over the figure-board K, as shown in fig. 2. These chainsare constructed in sections of ninc links each, corresponding with thefigures on the board, with an additional link of other metal as thecipher, and by which the sections are distingui shed. These chains arefive in number, thus corresponding with the rows of figures on theboard, which are counted from the top downwards, as units, tens,hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands, as indicated by the etteringbetween the Bpening in the right-hand section of the cover or stop-plateJ. To the dependent arm L, rig. 3, is pivoted a lever, M, one end ofwhich is projected through the case, the other terminates in a point ornib, a, which is made to pass under the pawl, and by which it isdisengaged from the wheel, for a purpose here: after described. v

The simple mechanical movements of the machine are as follows: On movingthe chains to the right by inserting some pointed implement in the linkswill cause the wheels to rotate. The shape of the faces of the wheelsbeing such as to prevent the chains from slipping over'them, at the sametime insists on a true and regular movement. The'first or unit-wheel, inthe series of master-wheels, is not furnished with a notched wheel andpawl, but with a pin only, which operates the cam with which it isassociated, as the next number in the series of wheels and cams. As thiswheel rotates and the pin comes around it strikes the cam and forces itforward. At the same time the pawl attached to the'cam, and engaged inthe'notches of the wheel next in order, causes the wheel of tens and thechain of tens to move the distance of one link, and thus adds one to thenumber in the order and. time of carrying. As the wheel continues torotate the pin is carried around to the opposite side, and in so doingforces the cam back, by striking on the opposite side of the opening inthe cam, in which the pin is at all times confined. Each cam and wheelis operated in the same way and in the same order and time that thenature of the computation may demand, the carrying of figures fromcolumn to column or from row to row.

Having thus described the construction and general movement of themachine, the special manner of manip ulating the same for computing isas follows, viz In order to set the machine for computing, the cipherson the figure-wheels, above referred to, must appear in the openings Nin the stop-plate J, andwhich is done by inserting some pointedimplement in the brass link in the chain of units, and moving it to theri ght until it reaches the edge of the stop-plate, and so on downwardthrough the whole series of chains, as designated by the plate,-'thusmoving each chain to the right, until the brass links which stand forciphers in the order of rotation range along the front edge of theplate, as shown in fig. 1, and which figure shows the machine ready forpractical exercises.

For the first example, please take 1, 8, 6, 9, of the figureboard ofunits to add together. Insert a peg in the link 1 of the chain of unitsand inove it to the right-the figure will appear in the opening;- nextinsert the'peg in the figure S in the chain, and 9 willappcar in theopening; next in 6 of the chain, new the chains of tens will move at thesame time carrying l, which will be seen in the openingof tens, and 5 inthe opening of units, making 15 as the result thus far; next insert thepeg in the last figure, 9, moving it to the right as before.

In this move another figure will be carried, changing the 1 to 2 in theopening of tens. The product of the addition will beread in the twoopenings as ='24. Again, take the follpwing, if you please, 438 and 706.First, bring all the ciphers to the openings, and the brass links to thestop-plate, as before, then insert the peg under figure4 in the chain ofhundreds, and move to the right, next under figure 3 in the chain oftens, and move to the right, and under figure S in the chain of units;the result will appear: Proceed with the next amount by inserting thepeg 1n figure 7 in the chain of hundreds, and move to the right; now thechain of thousands will advance one figure; the cipher is omitted in thechain of tens. Next insert the peg under figure6 in the chain of unitsand move to the right; now the chain of tens will advance one figure.The result will be read in the openings which will be read from thebottom upward, 1144. v

Proceedin the same way with any given number or numbers, observing'always to bring the brass links to the plate and the ciphers to appearin the openings before commencing a new-computation, keeping in mindthntthechain must never be moved to the left. The lever M, above described,disengages the pawl G between the third and fourth chains, by depressingthe proj eoting end while moving the brass links on the chain ofhundreds. This obviates the necessity of going through the series ofchains (when setting themachine) when the first, second, and thirdchains only have been used.

The peculiar advantages of this machine are, viz The amounts to be addedare conveyed to the machine in the order of rows in which they are read;hence, an addition can be done verbally. I It obviates the necessityofreversing the figures, anddoes not require the figures in columns,although it can add-by columns. The movement in operating this machineis natural and in, one direction only, which insures greater accuracy.The. result is always before theeye of the operator, who can see thework as it progresses. It is simple in its mechanism-and operation,which insures to it certainty and reliability.

Fig. 6 represents-a form of'wheel and chain which can be introducedinstead of the wheeland chainabove described. The construction of thischain is such'that the joints of which, on falling into thenotches-inthewheel, will prevent all possible slipping of the chain onthe wheel; hence, it will besafcr and more reliable than the onernowused. Multiplication can be performed by this machine by simplyrepeating the multiplicand the, numb er'oftimes indicated by themultiplier. .Thus, 23x24; move the tenj-nhain from Z to the right, then4 on the unit-chain this repeat three times. .Then on the hundred-chainand; on-the ten-chain, omitting theunit chain; this repeat twice, and552- appears injthe opening-the result. c j

Themachine may be constructed for computingfractions,board-measure,weights, &c., by havingthe first, orunit-wheel of theseries made with a correspondingnumber of faces, according to thefractions; Thus, in; board-measure, the said unit-wheel should havetwelve faces, every revolution indicating one foot; and inweights,sixteen faces, in which case every revolution indicates one pound. Otherinstances may be noted as carrying out the same principle of operation.i I

What I claim as my improvement, and dS jlT-e to secure by LettersPatent, is- 3 v I. The series of reciprocating cams'H and pawls G, incombination with the ratchet-wheclsF andpin a, arranged and operatingconjointiy with the endless chain J, substantially as and for thepurpose setfort-h.

2. The lever M and pawl G, as arranged inrelation to each other, and theratchet-wheel for disengaging or breaking the connection of one chainfrom the other, for the purpose set forth. i i j 3. The endless belt orchain, composed of sections corresponding to the faces or sides of themaster-wnee s,

and'so arranged as to operate conjointly with the figure-wheels,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

v A. W. DAVIES.

Witnesses:

' J. H. Bunnrnen W. H. BUnnIncu.

